Effects of Preparing for Physical Ability Tests

The results suggest that test preparation activities offer the potential to reduce adverse impact while maximizing selection opportunities of qualified applicants for physically demanding jobs.

Abstract

This article presents three studies that examine effects of training and nontraining preparation on physical ability test taking. The first study shows that upper body strength and muscular endurance of nonathlete females (N=24) can be enhanced by calisthenic training, with average gains between 30% to 50%. The second study shows a relation between female candidates (N=53) physical training participation and pass rates on a firefighter physical ability test. The third study shows the differential usefulness of alternative nontraining activities for preparing candidates (N=154) to take a physical ability test. Together, these results suggest that test preparation activities offer the potential to reduce adverse impact while maximizing selection opportunities of qualified applicants for physically demanding jobs.